Do you favor the rapid swoop-and-bag approach to picking up your dog’s stools or scooping cat litter? Although most pet owners would rather not prolong contact with their pet’s feces, sneaking an occasional peak can provide valuable clues about your furry friend’s health and habits.

Brown, Green or Yellow: What Stool Colors Mean

Normal stools are brown, although stool color may vary slightly depending on your pet’s diet. Feces get their brown color from bile, a liquid produced by the liver that aids in the digestive process. If your dog’s stools are yellow or white, he or she may have a liver condition. Pale stools may also mean that digested food passes through the gastrointestinal tract too quickly or might indicate that there is a problem with your pet’s gallbladder or pancreas.

Have you noticed that your pet’s stools are suddenly black or red? Red stools or red streaks in feces occur when bleeding occurs in the lower part of the digestive tract. Black stools may be a sign of bleeding higher in the digestive tract. Although the blood was originally red, it darkens as it makes it way through the small intestines. Does your pet enjoy snacking on grass? Although the habit is usually harmless, it can turn the stools green.

Stool Odor and Consistency Is Just as Important as Color

Feces never smell good, but some bowel movements smell worse than others. All stools have an odor, but the smell shouldn’t be overwhelming if your pet is healthy. Ideally, stools should be firm but pliant and resemble the sausage link segments.

Both diarrhea and hard stools can be a sign of health problem. Soft, loose stools may be caused by:

Stools may be harder and smaller than normal if your pet is constipated or dehydrated. The problem can occur if your pet eats a high-fiber diet, eats pet food that contains too many fillers or has kidney disease.

If hip dysplasia or arthritis is a problem, defecating may become such an uncomfortable experience that your pet avoids it as much as possible. Unfortunately, ignoring the urge to go may cause constipation. Cats may occasionally develop constipation because they avoid using a litter box that’s too dirty in their opinion.

If it’s been a few days since your pet has had a bowel movement, it’s time to make an appointment with the veterinarian. In some cases, constipation can occur due to a life-threatening blockage in the gastrointestinal tract.

Greasy feces or mucus-covered stools may also indicate a health problem. Mucus may appear due to an inflammation in the large intestine or rectum, constipation, food allergies, dietary changes, stress, constipation, infections or illnesses, polyps, tumors, or an infestation of tapeworms, whipworms or other parasites.